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No 10 welcomes Iran announcement Blair welcomes Iran announcement
(about 1 hour later)
Downing Street has welcomed the announcement by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that 15 captured Royal Navy personnel will be freed. Tony Blair says the release by Iran of the 15 Royal Navy personnel would be a "profound relief" to their families.
Diplomatic sources have told the BBC the announcement was "out of the blue" and a "real surprise". The prime minister said Britain had taken a "firm but calm" approach in negotiating with Iranian officials.
In a statement, Downing Street said: "We welcome what the president has said about the release of our 15 personnel. Earlier Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said the crew would be freed as a "gift". They are expected back at Heathrow at midday on Thursday.
"We are now establishing exactly what that means in terms of the method and timing of their release." The Tories and Lib Dems welcomed the freeing of the crew, but said questions would have to be asked in due course.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said the crew would be freed immediately 'Real surprise'
Currently the only information the government has is what Mr Ahmadinejad said in his news conference, the diplomatic sources say. Speaking in Downing Street, Mr Blair said: "I'm glad that our 15 service personnel have been released.
UK officials are trying to contact the Iranian authorities to work out details of how the captured crew will be handed over and return to the UK. "I know their release will come as a profound relief not just to them but to their families who have endured such distress and anxiety.
An Iranian official in London said the sailors would be handed over to British diplomats and that it would then be up to the Foreign Office to decide how they would return home. "Throughout we have taken a measured approach - firm but calm, not negotiating, but not confronting either."
"They will go through some brief formalities and then they will go to the embassy," the diplomat said. Mr Ahmadinejad met members of the British crew
He added: "To the Iranian people I would simply say this: we bear you no ill will.
"On the contrary, we respect Iran as an ancient civilisation, as a nation with a proud and dignified history.
"The disagreements that we have with your government, we wish to resolve peacefully, through dialogue.
"I hope, as I have always hoped, that in the future we are about to do so."
Diplomatic sources have told the BBC Iran's announcement was "out of the blue" and a "real surprise".
'Cobra meeting''Cobra meeting'
The government's civil contingencies committee - known as Cobra - is to meet at 1700 GMT. An Iranian official in London said the sailors and marines would be handed over to British diplomats and that it would then be up to the Foreign Office to decide how they would return home.
"They will go through some brief formalities and then they will go to the embassy," the diplomat said.
Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague said: "We welcome the news that our navy personnel will be released.Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague said: "We welcome the news that our navy personnel will be released.
Their seizure underlines the difficult and dangerous tasks we ask of our armed forces Menzies CampbellLib Dem leader There will be many lessons to be learned from this episode Menzies CampbellLib Dem leader
"I'm sure their families and whole country are greatly relieved and we look forward to welcoming them home quickly and safely.""I'm sure their families and whole country are greatly relieved and we look forward to welcoming them home quickly and safely."
Shadow Defence Secretary Liam Fox said: "We all look forward to welcoming them home as soon as possible.Shadow Defence Secretary Liam Fox said: "We all look forward to welcoming them home as soon as possible.
"There will be questions to be asked about this whole episode, but I think it would be prudent to restrict our comments and our questions until all our personnel are back in the UK.""There will be questions to be asked about this whole episode, but I think it would be prudent to restrict our comments and our questions until all our personnel are back in the UK."
Liberal Democrat leader Menzies Campbell said: "There will be many lessons to be learned from this episode. But for the moment we should welcome this announcement and look forward to the return of the naval personnel. Liberal Democrat leader Menzies Campbell said: "There will be many lessons to be learned from this episode.
"But for the moment we should welcome this announcement and look forward to the return of the naval personnel.
"Their seizure underlines the difficult and dangerous tasks we ask of our armed forces.""Their seizure underlines the difficult and dangerous tasks we ask of our armed forces."